Ice maker with bin sensing mechanism



July 18, 1967 L. F. SHAW 3,331,215

ICE MAKER WITH BIN SENSING MECHANISM Filed April 28, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet1 6 INVENTOR Z VIE/C. SHAW HEATER 1 85 34), M 7 ATTORNEY July 18, 1967F. SHAW ICE MAKER WITH BIN SENSING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 28, 1966 INVENTOR LYLE/T SHAW ATT NE July 18, 1967 SHAW 3,331,215

ICE MAKER WITH BIN SENSING MECHANISM Filed April 28, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet5 INVENTOR LVLE/F'SH/IW BY 41, W

.. HMATTORNEY July 18, 1967 L. F. SHAW 3,331,215

' ICE MAKER WITH BIN SENSING MECHANISM Filed April 28, 1966 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR LYLE E SHAW ATTORNEY United States Patent3,331,215 ICE MAKER WITH BIN SENSING MECHANISM Lyle F. Shaw, Fort Smith,Ark, assignor, by mesne assignments, to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Filed Apr. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 546,016 14 Claims.(Cl. 62-137) This invention relates to an ice maker and moreparticularly to an automatic ice cube maker of the type adapted to beinstalled in a refrigerator.

The invention relates generally to the type of ice maker including anice-cube forming mold structure having cavities in which water isfrozen, heating means for freeing ice cubes in the mold cavities, meansfor removing ice cubes from the mold cavities comprising one or moreejector pistons forming the bottoms of the mold ice-cube cavities andmechanically connected for simultaneously raising and ejecting the icecubes from the mold, and water supply means for providing water to themold cavities for a subsequent ice cube-forming and ejection operation,the described operations of the ice maker being consecutively performedby cam mechanism controlled by, and controlling, an electric switchmeans. In addition, the ice maker is provided with means for terminatingoperation, when an associated ice bin is filled with the ice cubes, inthe form of a feeler arm mechanism movable, after each ice cube deliveryto the bin, to sense the ice cube accumulation in the bin. An ice makerof this type is described and claimed in US. Patent 3,163,- 017, issuedDec. 29, 1964, in the names of Clyde F. Baker, Romeo Bougie, and Lyle F.Shaw.

The present invention has as its principal object the provision ofimproved control means for stopping the operation of an ice maker when adesired quantity of ice has been accumulated.-

A specific object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanicalcontrol means for operating electric control switch means, todiscontinue operation of the ice maker, only when a desired quantity ofice has been accumulated.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial front elevational view of a refrigerator providedwith an automatic ice maker embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the automatic ice maker;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the ice maker illustrating the icecube-forming mold structure, the ice cube-raising and ejector mechanism,cam control mechanism, bin control feeler mechanism, and the fluidsupply, together with electrical components for operation of themechanisms and fluid supply, the mold structure being shown in sectionto more clearly show the ice-cube raising and ejector mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the ice maker showing the cam mechanism,and switch means operative thereby, said section being taken on line 44of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7-9 are enlarged views of the ice-accumulation feeler mechanism,and ice maker control stop switch operative thereby, FIGS. 7 and 8illustrating respectively the feeler mechanism and switch prior toinitiation, and at the termination, of the ice-ejecting operation, andFIG. 9 illustrates the feeler mechanism and switch in positions takenwhen the ice bin is filled with ice cubes;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control arrangement forthe ice maker.

Briefly, the ice maker illustrated in the drawings, comprises an icecube-forming mold structure having a plurality of pistons, defining thebottoms of the ice cubeforming cavities in the mold structure, operatedby a lever arrangement to eject the ice cubes from the mold upon heatingof the mold by a heater to free the ice cubes from the mold, the pistonsbeing simultaneously actuated by a lever mechanism controlled by a cammechanism operated by an electric motor energizable by a thermostatresponsive to the freezing temperature of the ice mold, the cammechanism also being instrumental to cause motion of a raker to sweepthe ice cubes from their raised positions into a receptacle and beingfurther effective to control fluid supply to the molds for ice cubeformation, all of these various functions of the ice maker beingthermostatically, electrically, and cam controlled, as disclosed in theaforesaid US. Patent 3,163,017.

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator illustrated is of a well-knowntype and comprises a thermally insulated cabinet 10 having a frozen foodcompartment 11 provided with an evaporator or a cooling unit in the formof cooling refrigerant passages 12 (FIG. 2) in the liner 13 of thecompartment to cool the air within the compartment 11 and thereby tofreeze foods and water placed in the compartment. As it will beobserved, the automatic ice cube maker of the invention, generallyindicated at 15, is mounted in the compartment 11 in a manner to bedescribed.

Details of the construction of the ice cube maker are more clearly shownin FIGS. 2-6, inclusive. The ice cube maker comprises an aluminum moldblock or structure 16 of rectangular box-like configuration having oneside secured by bolts 17 passing through the mold and the liner 13 intothe cabinet 10 to support the ice maker on the refrigerator as shown inFIG. 2 and for intimate heat exchanging contact with the liner 13 forthermal conduction relation to themold structure 16 to insure freezingof water within the mold structure by the absorption of heat therefromby the vaporizable refrigerants circulated through the evaporatorpassages 12 of the liner 13.

As seen in FIG. 2, the flat side Wall 18 of the ice mold structure orblock is spaced from the liner by a pair of spaced thermal-conductivepads 19 and also three thermalinsulating pads 20, disposed between thepads 19 and at opposite ends of the pads 19, the pads being engaged withthe aluminum mold structure to space the mold structure from the liner.This arrangement is important as the thermal-conducting pads are locatedto conduct heat from the central cavity or mold 21 and the adjacentcavities or molds 22 and 23 to cause freezing of the fluid in thesecavities into cubes prior to conducting heat from the end molds 24 and25 to form ice cubes in the end molds, i.e. fluid in the central and itsadjacent molds 21, 22, and 23 will freeze into ice cubes prior to thefreezing of the water in the end molds 24 and 25 so that ice cubes willbe formed in all of the molds to close a thermostatic switch, located inproximity to the mold to energize a motor and a heater as will later bedescribed. It will be seen that pads 19 are positioned between the blockand the liner and disposed in parallel vertical planes respectivelyextending between the central mold 21 and two molds 22 and 23 so thatthe adjacency of the heat-conducting pads to these molds will cause thewater to be frozen into ice cubes prior to the ice cubes being formed inthe end molds 24 and 25.

. This safety factor insures the thermostatic switch closing only whenall of the ice cubes are formed in the molds.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mold structure 16 is provided with each ofits ice cube-forming molds being provided by vertical cylindricalpockets with each pocket being enlarged diametrically in cross-sectionfrom the bottom to the top thereof to provide the individual molds withan inverted frusto-conical shape for forming an ice cube of maximum sizewhile permitting easy ejection of the cubes from the molds. As seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, the walls 27 between and separating adjacent molds areinterrupted by aligned vertical passages 28 for permitting fluidentering the mold from a trough 29 mounted on the right end of the moldstructure, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fluid flowing into the mold 25and thence through the connecting passages 28 consecutively to the molds23, 21, 22, and 24. The entry of water into the molds is controlled by avalve 30 having a solenoid 31 which, when energized, opens the valve topermit fluid to enter the trough and the molds.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the molds 22, 23, 24, and 25 have theirbottoms closed by a plurality of piston-like plates 32 formed integralwith the top of a thin elongate horizontal bar 33 received within thepassages 28 of the mold structure and an elongate slot 34 in the block,and the central mold has its bottom closed by a solid piston 35 formedintegral with the bar, so that the molds 21-25 and passages 28 areclosed at their bottom ends. It may be noted that the passages 28 notonly provide for the consecutive filling of the molds from right to leftfrom the trough but also provide guides for the vertical movement of thebar 33 during raising and lowering of the iceeube ejector assemblycomprising the bar 33 and the pistons 32 and 35. As seen in FIGS. 2 and3, the piston 35 of the ejector assembly has an opening extendingvertically therethrough for receiving the reduced end 36 of the upperportion of a cylindrical pilot rod 37 of the ejector assembly, the rodhaving a shoulder abutting the bottom of the piston 35 for supportingthe pistons and bar for conjoint movement, the top of the rod 37 beingflattened to provide a rivet 38 to secure the rod 37 to the piston 35.The rod extends through and is slidably supported in a cylindricalopening 39 in the mold structure and through a boss 40 extendingdownwardly of the mold, the upper end of the opening 39 being enlargedto receive a seal assembly 41 surrounding and slidably engaging the rod37.

It will be apparent that, in the position of the ejector assembly shownin FIG. 3, water entering from the trough 29 will flow into the mold 25and consecutively into the molds 23, 21, 22 and 24 until the molds arefilled with a predetermined quantity of fluid for freezing into icecubes by the heat exchange relation of the mold and the liner 11 andthat, when the ice cubes are formed, movement of the rod 37 upwardlywill raise the bar 33 and its pistons 32 and 35 to eject the ice cubesfrom the molds.

A lever mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the ejectorassembly and comprises a lever 42 having an arm 43 received within aslot 44 in the pilot rod 37 as shown in FIG. 3, the lever 42 beingpivoted intermediate its ends by a pin 45 positioned on and extendingthrough parallel cars 46, 46 of an end wall 47 of the casing 48supporting the lever mechanism. The lever is adapted to rotate about thepin 45 by having its arm 49 operated by a cam mechanism, generallyindicated at 50, effective to control such movement of the lever toraise the ejector assembly to raise the ice cubes and to thereafterlower the ejector assembly.

The cam mechanism is instrumental in controlling, with a thermostaticcontrol, the various functions of the ice cube maker. More particularly,the cam mechanism comprises a rotatable cam 51 connected to the drivenshaft 52 of transmission gearing (not shown) which, in turn, isconnected to the shaft of an electric motor 53 mounted on plate 54connected by screws 55 and 56 to the casing walls 57 and 47, the gearingbeing adapted to provide a ratio of 340021 for rotating the shaft 52. Asseen in FIG. 4, a headed threaded pin 58 secured to one side of the camin spaced relation to the rotational axis of the cam extends within anelongate slot 59 in the arm 49 of the lever 42 so that rotation of thecam will cause the pin 58 to travel along the slot 59 on the lever tomove the lever about its pivot pin 45 to raise and lower the ejectorassembly.

Referring to FIG. 6, the mold block 16 has grooves 60 formed in thebottom thereof for receiving the legs of a U-shaped aluminum sheathedelectrical coil 61 capable of 300 watts at 115 volts to provide a heaterfor heating the body of the mold block so that heat conducted throughthe mold block to the ice cubes will melt the frozen bond between theice cubes and the walls of the molds. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, theends of the coil extend through and are supported by, as at 62, the wall47 of the casing.

Upon application of heat to the mold block by the heater coil, the heatwill be conducted uniformly to all of the molds 21 to 25 tosubstantially simultaneously free the cubes from the mold and, due tothe location of the thermal-insulating pads 20, very little heat willflow to and be conducted through the small area of the thermalconductivepads 19 to the linear 13. Accordingly, it will require very littleexertion or action by the ejector and cam mechanism and the motor toraise the cubes out of the mold.

Referring again to the cam mechanism, the cam mechanism also comprisesmeans for actuating a lever 63 having one end pivoted by a pin 64 on theplate 54 of the casing and having its other end provided with an openingfor receiving the lower laterally projecting end of a rod 65 extendingvertically upwardly and having its upper end also laterally offset toextend within an opening in the arm 66 of a lever 67. The body of thelever 67 is also provided with an opening for receiving one end 68 of anelongate rake or sweep 69, the cylindrical end 68 of the rake beingknurled to conform to and tightly fit into the opening in the lever bodyto insure that rotation of lever will also rotate the rake. The end 68and the other end 71) of the rake 69 are offset from the body of therake and extend respectively within openings in the wall 47 of thecasing 48 and the wall 71 of the trough 29 to position the rake body inradially spaced relation to the pivotal axis of the rake as provided bythe opposite mounted ends of the rake, to thus position the rake aboveand to one side of the mold so that the rake will not interfere with theupper ejecting movement of the ice cubes from the molds but the rake canrotate to sweep the raised cubes from the mold and into the basket 72shown in FIG. 1.

The lever 63 is adapted to be rotated in a counterclockwise directionabout its pivotal support 64 by a pin 73 (FIG. 6) projecting from theside of the cam and engaging a semi-circular surface 74 of the leverbeing concentric to the axis of rotation of the lever and terminating atone end in a flat chordal surface 75 of a projecting portion 76 of thelever, the surface 75 being spaced from the axis of the semi-circularsurface and tangential to an arc struck from said axis, the other end ofthe surface 75 being in spaced relation to the adjacent end of thesurface 74 to define an opening between the projecting portion 76 of thelever and the body of the lever. It will be apparent, upon rotation ofthe cam, that the pin 73 will ride along the surface 74 of the leverwith-out actuating the lever but, upon the pin 73 engaging the surface75, the pin will raise the lever to move the rod 65 to rotate the lever67 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 5) and thereby the rake to cause thebody of the rake to pivot about its end to sweep the raised cubes fromthe molds.

FIGS. 5-9, inclusive, illustrate the control means of the presentinvention and its mechanism for stopping the operation of the ice makerwhen the ice bin is filled with a desired quantity of ice cubes. Moreparticularly, the lever 67 has an arm 78 disposed substantially at aright angle to the rake-operating arm 66, the arm 78 having an openingfor receiving the offset end 79a of an actuating rod 79 so that rotationof the lever 67 by rod 65 will actuate rod 79. The other end 79b of therod 79 is also offset for reception within a slot 80 in an arm 81 of alever 82. The lever 82 has an opening receiving the knurled end 83 of afeeler 84 for conjoint movement of the feeler and lever, the end 83extending through and being rotatably mounted, as shown in FIG. 2, inthe wall 47 of the casing 48. The offset end 7901 of the rod 79 isnormally maintained centrally of the slot 89 in lever 82, as shown inFIG. 7, by a tension spring .85 having one end connected to the otheroffset end 79a of the rod 79, the other end of the spring beingconnected to a downwardly extending crank pin 86 of the lever 82, thecrank pin being radially offset from the rotational axis of the lever.In FIG. 7, the feeler 84 contacts the casing to prevent rotation of thelever 82 by the spring 86. The feeler 84 is bent vertically downwardlyfrom its arm 83 from its rotative mounting in the casing wall 47 and isfurther bent horizontally at its lower extremity to provide a feeler arm87 extending above the ice cube-receiving receptacle or basket.

A switch 89 is mounted on and secured to the wall 47 of the casing andis provided with a pushbutton operative to open normally-closed contactsof the switch. The switch 89 is provided with a leaf-type spring 88overlying and normally spaced from the pushbutton, but movable towardthe pushbutton to open the contacts of the switch. As shown in FIG. 7,the spring 88 has its lower end anchored to the switch, and has an upperarcuately-shaped portion 88a located above the switch button andengageable with the anglarly offset end 79a of the rod 79, extendingthrough the slot 80 in the arm 81 of lever 82, and which, as will bepresently described, moves the spring portion 88a to operate thepushbutton to open the switch contacts. Referring now particularly tothe shape of the slot 80 in the arm 81 of lever 82, the slot is formedto provide arcuate portions 80a and 80b reversely curved to provide camsurfaces 81a and 8111 on the arm 81 engageable with the end 79a of therod 79, as will now be described.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-9 inclusive, FIG. 7 illustrates the positionsof the cam-operated feeler mechanism, and the switch 89 and itsoperating spring 88 during the ice-cube forming operation of the icemaker, the electric motor 53 being deenergized to inactivate the cammech anism. Assuming initiation of the operation of the ice maker withthe bin empty, the feeler 84 is in its lowermost position and engagingthe casing 48. The switchoperating end 7% of rod 79 is shown inengagement with the cam surface 81a of lever 82 and the switch spring88, the switch contacts being in their normally-open position.

FIG. 8 illustrates the position of the above control components duringactuation of the energized cam mechanism to provide the ice-cubeejection operation. At this time, and referring also to FIG. 6, the cammechanism is operative to rotate cam 63 to engage its pin 73 with thefiat surface 75 of the lever 76 to rotate the lever upwardly to raisethe rod 65 to rotate lever 67 counterclockwise from the FIG. 7 to theFIG. 8 position. Arm 78 of lever 67 will move rod 79 to rotate andposition the feeler arm 87 above the basket or bin, so that, the cubes,swept from the mold structure, can freely fall into the basket withoutbeing impeded by the feeler arm 87. More particularly, the end 7% of therod 79 moves along the arcuate cam portion 81a of the lever 82 and tothe left end of the slot, away from switch spring 88, to rotate andraise the feeler 84 to position the arm 87 thereof above the basket.After the ice-ejection operation, further rotation of lever 63 causescam pin 73 to ride off of the flat surface 75 of the lever 63 to causethe rod 65 to descend thereby returning the lever 82, lever 67 and rod79 to the FIG. 6 position, the tension spring 85 operating to assist thelowering and return of the feeler 84- to the FIG. 7 position.

The above feeler operation continues until the bin is filled with asufiicient quantity of ice cubes to contact the arm 87 of the feeler 84during its return movement from its raised position shown in FIG. 8 toits normal position shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 illustrates the feeler 84 inits 6 ice-restrained position and it will be noted, as the lever 67rotates clockwise from the FIG. 8 to the FIG. 9 position, the rod 79will be moved to the right to cause its end 7% to travel along the slot80 in lever 82 and the cam portion 81b thereof to engage and move theleaf spring portion 88a to actuate the pushbutton to open the contactsof the switch 89 as shown in FIG. 9. The switch 89 is in the electricalcontrol circuit of the ice maker and, upon opening its contacts, iseffective to interrupt operation of the ice maker when the electricmotor returns the cam mechanism and ice-ejecting plungers to theirinitial positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, as will be later described.

Upon removal of ice cubes from the ice bin, the feeler rotatesdownwardly to the position of FIG. 7. As a result, the end 79b of therod 79 travels along the slot 801] in the lever 82, and the actuatingportion 880 of spring 88 moves to the left to effect closing of thecontacts of switch 89 to complete a circuit to energize the electricmotor for continuing operation of the ice maker.

I1 the event it is desired to discontinue operation of the ice maker forservicing, the feeler may be raised manually and held in its raisedposition by a spring clip or other retaining means. Such movement causesthe lever 82 to rotate to cause the offset end 79b of lever 82 to movealong the cam surfaces 81a and 81b of lever 82 and to engage the spring88 operating the switch pushbutton to open the contacts of the switch89.

Referring to FIG. 6, the cam control mechanism is further instrumentalin sequentially actuating switches 90 and 91, the switch 90 beingeffective to control an energizing circuit for the electric motor, andthe switch 91 being operative to control energization of the solenoid 31of the water-fill valve 30. More particularly, the switches 90 and 91are consecutively closed during rotation of the earn, the switches beingprovided by a plurality of contacts formed as an assembly generallyindicated 92 mounted on the wall 54 of the housing, two of the contactsof respective switches being connected by an insulating stud 94 forunitary movement to engage the other contacts of the switches, as shownin FIG. 6. A flexible actuator arm 96 of the assembly is connected by aninsulating pin to the stud 94 and extends downwardly therebeyond forreception within a recess 95 of the cam (FIG. 6). The end of arm 96 isadapted to move out from the cam recess to engage the side of therecess-defining portion of the cam and to ride upon the concentricperiphery of the cam to close switch 90 to energize the motor. The camperiphery is also provided with a tab projecting outwardly therefrom toengage the arm 96 to additionally close switch 91 to energize solenoid31 of valve 39 during rotation of the cam. As seen in FIG. 4, the tab100 is adjustably positioned on the cam by a screw extending through anelongate slot in the tab and permitting adjustment of the tab on the camto a position determinative of the time of occurrence of theenergization of the water fill solenoid. It will be noted that the tab100 of the cam, when the cam is rotated in counterclockwise direction(FIG. 6), will engage the arm 96 just prior to its entry into the recess95 of the cam so that, when the tab 100 closes switch 91, the ice cubeswill have been previously ejected from the molds and the ejectorassembly returned to the bottom of the molds to insure the molds beingfilled with water during operation of the tab to close switch 91 toenergize solenoid 31 of valve 30. After the arm 96 has released itsengagement with the tab 100, the motor-energizing switch 99 remainsclosed to rotate the cam until the arm 96 is positioned within recess 95of the cam when both switches are opened to stop operation of the icemaker until the water in the molds form ice cubes. At this time, themotor is energized to operate the cam and lever mechanism to effectejection of the cubes from the molds and into the basket. For thispurpose, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the mold is provided with athermostatic switch 101 located in a cavity 102 in the end of the moldadjacent to but spaced from the mold 24 by a comparatively thin wall103, defining a portion of the end mold 24 of the mold structure. Theswitch 101 is held with its thermostatically-responsive, contact-closingportion in engagement with this wall by a spring 104 compressed betweenthe thermostatic switch and the wall 47 of casing 43. The switchcontacts are adapted to open at 30 F. and to close at F. The controlthermostatic switch 101 is in a circuit to control energization of theelectric motor in a manner to be later described.

As a safety factor, a thermostatic switch 105 is mounted on the wall 47of the casing 48 so that should an undesirable high temperature of thealuminum mold structure and wall 47 be had, during abnormal heating bythe heater coil 61 in the event of malfunctioning of the controlthermostatic switch 101, the switch will open its contacts to interruptall circuits, including the heater coil circuit. The thermostat iseffective to close its contacts below, and at 40 F. and to open itscontacts at a temperature rise to 60 F. This function of the switch 105will be amplified in the description of the operation of the ice maker.

In the operation of the ice cubemaker, it will be assumed that themechanical and electrical components of the ice cube maker are in thepositions shown in FIGS. 1-7 and also referring to the electricalcontrol diagram of FIG. 10. In addition, it will be assumed the moldshave been filled with water and the water frozen into ice cubesconforming to the frusto-conical shape of the molds. At this time, thecontacts of the safety thermostatic switch 105 are closed and, as thetemperature of the wall 47 of the casing is at or below 5 F., thecontacts of the control thermostatic switch 101 have closed to provide acircuit to simultaneously energize the motor 53 and also the heater coil61 so that the motor rotates the cam to cause arm 96 of the switchassembly 92 to close switch 90 to establish a circuit to maintain themotor energized, upon opening of the contacts of the control switch 101at or above 30 F. by heat conducted to the mold structure and easingwall 47 by energization of the heater.

Referring to the electrical control diagram of FIG. 10, it will beapparent that a circuit is completed including line L1, closed contactsof the safety switch 105, the closed contacts of the control switch 101,conductor C1, closed contacts of the stop switch 89, conductors C2 andC3, winding of the motor 53, conductor C4, to line L2. A circuit issimultaneously established to energize the heater coil 61 includingconductors C2 and C5, the heater coil 61, conductor C4 to line L2.

As the heat penetrates the mold block, the control switch 101 opens itscontacts at or above 30 F. but, at this time, the cam has been rotatedby the mot-or to actuate arm 96 of the switch assembly 92 to closeswitch 90 to continue establishment of circuits to maintain the motorand electric coil energized during the entire operation of the machine.The motor-energizing circuit includes line L1, closed contacts of switch105, conductor C6, closed contacts of switch 90, conductors C7, C2, C3,winding of motor 53, conductor C4 to line L2. At the same time, theswitch '90 also establishes a circuit to the heater coil including lineL1, conductor C6, switch 90, conductor C7, conductor C2, conductor C5,heater coil 61, conductor C4 to line L2.

Due to the frozen bond between the ice cubes and the sides of the molds,operation of the ejector mechanism does not occur and, accordingly, themotor will stall until a predetermined period of time has elapsed duringwhich the temperature of the block rises to free the ice cubes fromtheir bond with the molds. At this time, the motor renews operation tocause the cam to rotate to move pin 58 along the slot 59 in lever 49 toslowly move the lever in a clockwise direction (FIG. 6) about its pivotpin 45 to raise the arm 42 of the lever and thereby the pilot rod 37 andthereby the pistons upwardly to remove the loosened ice cubes from themolds. This movement of the cubes takes a 50 second time period, and thecubes are held in their raised position for approximately 15 to 20seconds so that water on the outer surfaces of the cubes will be frozento prevent congealing connections of the cubes to each other when theyare swept into the basket by the rake 69.

At the conclusion of this time, the motor rotates the cam to theposition in which its pin 73 is engaged with the flat chordal surface 75of the lever 63 so as to raise the free end of the lever, by rotation ofthe lever in a counterclockwise direction, to move the rod 65 to rotatelever 67 to cause the body of the rake to pivot about its ends to sweepthe ice cubes from the mold structure and into the basket.

During actuation of the rake and prior to engagement of the rake withthe cubes, the lever 67 operates rod 79 which, in turn, rotates lever 82to move the feeler 84, from its normal position to a position above andover the basket, so that the ice cubes may fall freely into the basketwhen the raker is operative to remove the raised ice cubes from the moldstructure. When the pin 73 of the cam is positioned within the spacebetween the portion 37 and the body of the lever, the pin 58 of the camhas been effective to rotate lever 42 to move the ejector mechanism,including the piston, their supporting bar, and the pilot rod, to thelowered positions and to return the feeler arm to its normal position.

As the cam continues to rotate, the tab 100, projecting outwardly of theperiphery of the cam, will engage arm 96 of the switch assembly 92 tocontinue closing the contacts of switch for energizing the motor and, inaddition, will close the contacts of switch 91 to effect energization ofthe solenoid 31 of the water valve 30 to cause water to flow into trough29 and into the molds for an amount of time determined by the engagementof the tab with the arm 96 to fill the molds with water. As the tab 100of the cam releases its engagement with the arm 96 of the switchassembly, the arm 96 of this assembly will continue to engage theperiphery of the cam 43 to continue energization of the motor and heatercoil until the arm 96 is positioned within the recess in the cam to openthe switch 90 and thereby effect deenergization of the motor and theheater coil. The motor for energizing the water valve solenoid 31includes line L1, the closed contacts of the safety thermostat switch,conductor C6, closed contacts of switch 90, closed contacts of switch91, conductor C3, the winding of the water valve solenoid 31, conductorC4 to line L2.

In the event the receptable should be filled with ice cubes to an extentthat he feeler fails to return from its raised position to its loweredposition above and over the basket, the contacts of the stop switch 39will be opened, as previously described, so that, at the end of thenormal cycle of operation of the machine when the switch 90 is opened,freezing of the ice cubes and closing of contacts of thermostatic switch101 will not establish a circuit to the motor and heater coil as thiscircuit requires the contacts of the stop switch 89 to be closed.

An additional safety factor has been previously mentioned in the :formof the safety thermostatic switch 105 which, as shown in FIG. 10, isdirectly connected to the line L1 so that in the event of thetemperature rise during the heating of the mold block 16 by the heatercoil 61, the safety switch will operate to open its contacts toimmediately interrupt any circuits energizing the motor or any of theelectrical components of the machine. This safety factor is ofconsiderable value in preventing con tinued operation of the heatercoil, for example, when the temperature of the mold rises to an extentthat any ice cubes in the molds may be substantially melted, or thewater in the molds may be vaporized.

While we have described a specific embodiment of the ice cube makerforming the invention, it is to be clearly 9 understood thatmodifications may be made which fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In an ice maker having a support, an ice mold on said support, meansfor ejecting ice from said mold, a recepacle :for ice ejected from saidmold and located at one side of said mold, the improvement residing inan electrical control circuit for energizing said ice-ejecting meansincluding a normally-closed switch having an operating element foropening said switch; means for sensing when the receptacle is filledwith ice comprising a feeler member pivotally mounted on said supportand having a first position at one side of said receptacle, means forrotating said feeler member from said first position to a secondposition above said receptacle and including an actuating memberconnected to and operable by said iceejecting means and located adjacentto said switch-operating element, and lost motion means connecting saidactuating member and said feeler member for precluding actuation of saidswitch-operating element by said actuating member during movement ofsaid feeler member by said actuating member from said first position tosaid second position,- and for moving said actuating member relative tosaid feeler member only when said lfeeler member is restraining frommovement to said first position by ice in the receptacle, to engage andactuate said switch-operating element to open said switch.

2. In an ice maker as defined in claim 1 in which the switch-operatingelement is a spring operable by said actuating member to open theswitch.

3. In an ice maker as defined in claim 1 in which a spring connects saidactuating member and said feeler member and is operative to move thefeeler member from its second position to its first position.

4. In an ice maker as set forth in claim 1 in which the connecting meansoperable between said actuating member and said feeler member is a lostmotion connection which comprises a slot in one of said members and receiving the other member, the portion of said one member, defining theend of said slot, being engageable with said other member to operatesaid feeler member from said first position to said second position,said switch-actuating element being disposed in the path of travel ofsaid other member when said feeler member is in its ice-restrainedposition.

5. In an ice maker asset forth in claim 4 in which said slot is in saidfeeler member, and said actuating member extends within said slot.

6. In an ice maker as defined in claim 4 in which the slot in said onemember is defined by an arcuate cam surface engaging said other memberto control movement of said feeler member.

7. In an ice maker as defined in claim 6 in which the slot is in saidfeeler member, and said actuating member extends within said slot, andsaid cam surface engages said actuating member between the ends of saidslot and is operative to control movement of said actuating memberduring movement of said feeler member between said first and secondpositions, said switch-operating element being disposed in the path oftravel of said actuating member and engageable thereby to open saidswitch when said feeler member movement is restrained by the ice in saidreceptacle.

8. In an ice maker as set forth in claim 7 in which said actuatingmember is movable along said cam surface and engages a portion of saidfeeler member, defining one end of said slot, to move said feeler memberfrom its first to its second position.

9. In an ice maker as set rforth in claim 1 in which said feeler memberis manually raisable to position the feeler member above said receptacleto provide movement of said actuating member relative to said feelermember by said operable means to engage said actuating member with saidswitch-operating element to open said switch.

10.In an ice maker, a freezer mold provided with an ice piece-formingcavity therein; an ejector member extending into said cavity and closingthe bottom of said cavity and being reciprocable in said cavity; asupport; means for reciprocating said ejector member to raise the icepiece above the top of said mold and to return said ejector member toits cavity bottom-closing position including a first lever pivotallyconnected to said ejector member; a receptacle for ice pieces; a rakermember for effecting movement of said raised ice piece from the top ofsaid mold into said receptacle and having a second lever connectedthereto; a feeler element pivoally connected to said support and havinga normal first position at one side of said receptacle and rotatable toa second position above said receptacle prior to movement of said icepieces into said receptacle; a third lever fixed to said feeler elementand provided with an arm movable to rotate said feeler element from itsfirst position to its second position; an electric motor; cam meansactuatable by said motor and including a rotatable cam connected to saidfirst lever and thereby said ejector member to raise said ice piece tothe top of said mold, said cam being connected to said second lever tomove said second lever in a first direction to operate said rakerelement; for movement of said ice piece into said receptacle; andelectric control circuit for said motor and including a normally-closedswitch having an operating element for opening said switch; and meansfor controlling operation of said feeler element and saidswitch-operating element and including means operable between saidsecond lever and the arm of said third lever and precluding actuation ofsaid switch-operating element during operation of said third lever andmovement of said feeler element from said first position to said secondposition, said operable means being effective, during rotation of saidsecond lever in a second direction, to actuate said switch-operatingelement to open said switch when the ice pieces in the receptacle impedemovement of the feeler element from its second position to its firstposition,

11. In an ice maker as defined in claim 10 wherein said operable meansbetween said second lever and the arm of said third lever includes alost motion connection between said second lever and the arm of saidthird lever and provided by a link having one end connected to saidsecond lever and having its other end received within a slot in saidthird lever arm and in spaced relation to said switch-operating element,rotation of said second lever in one direction operating said link tomove said third lever to position the feeler element over saidreceptacle and to move said link away from said switch-operatingelement,

said link being movable in said slot and relative to said third leverarm, during rotation of said second lever in a second direction, toactuate said switch-operating element to open said switch when the icepieces in the receptacle impede movement of the feeler element from itssecond position to its first position.

12. In an ice maker as defined in claim 11 wherein said third lever armis provided with a slot-defining cam surface engaging said link tocontrol movement of said third lever and thereby said feeler elementbetween said first and second positions.

13. In an ice maker as defined in claim 12 wherein an end of said linksextends through said slot and is disposed to actuate saidswitch-operating element.

14. In an ice maker as defined in claim 10 wherein said feeler elementis manually movable to position the feeler element above said receptacleto provide movement of (References on following page) 1 l 1 2 saidoperable means to actuate said switch-operating ele- 3,163,018 12/1964Shaw 62--137 ment to open said switch. 3,188,827 6/1965 Bauerlein 621373,208,233 9/1965 Linstromberg 62137 References Clted UNITED STATESPATENTS 5 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Prima'ry Examiner. 3,064,442 11/1962 Bougieet a1. 62353 X W. E. WAYNER, Assistant Examiner.

3,144,078 8/1964 Morton et a1. 62344 X

1. IN AN ICE MAKER HAVING A SUPPORT, AN ICE MOLD ON SAID SUPPORT, MEANSFOR EJECTING ICE FROM SAID MOLD, A RECEPACLE FOR ICE EJECTED FROM SAIDMOLD AND LOCATED AT ONE SIDE OF SAID MOLD, THE IMPROVEMENT RESIDING INAN ELECTRICAL CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR ENERGIZING SAID ICE-EJECTING MEANSINCLUDING A NORMALLY-CLOSED SWITCH HAVING AN OPERATING ELEMENT FOROPENING SAID SWITCH; MEANS FOR SENSING WHEN THE RECEPTACLE IS FILLEDWITH ICE COMPRISING A FEELER MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTAND HAVING A FIRST POSITION AT ONE SIDE OF SAID RECEPTACLE, MEANS FORROTATING SAID FEELER MEMBER FROM SAID FIRST POSITION TO A SECONDPOSITION ABOVE SAID RECEPTACLE AND INCLUDING AN ACTUATING MEMBERCONNECTED TO AND OPERABLE BY SAID ICEEJECTING MEANS AND LOCATED ADJACENTTO SAID SWITCH-OPERATING ELEMENT, AND LOST MOTION MEANS CONNECTING SAIDACTUATING MEMBER AND SAID FEELER MEMBER FOR PRECLUDING ACTUATION OF SAIDSWITCH-OPERATING ELEMENT BY SAID ACTUATING MEMBER DURING MOVEMENT OFSAID FEELER MEMBER BY SAID ACTURATING MEMBER FROM SAID FIRST POSITION TOSAID SECOND POSITION, AND FOR MOVING SAID ACTUATING MEMBER RELATIVE TOSAID FEELER MEMBER ONLY WHEN SAID FEELER MEMBER IS RESTRAINING FROMMOVEMENT TO SAID FIRST POSITION BY ICE IN THE RECEPTACLE, TO ENGAGE ANDACTUATE SAID SWITCH-OPERATING ELEMENT TO OPEN SAID SWITCH.